Fister’s early error proves costly (Nats lose 8-0)

Doug Fister was in line to start his Nationals debut with an easy first inning - that is, when nerves, enthusiasm or whatever other emotion he took into tonight’s contest appeared to get in the way.

Fister got John Jaso and Jed Lowrie to fly out to start the game before Josh Donaldson singled back to the pitcher. Fister didn’t eat the grounder or make a safe throw to first. He fired wide of the bag and up the right field line, awarding Donaldson an additional two bases on the error.

Brandon Moss then singled to right, scoring Donaldson from third for a 1-0 A’s lead. Fister ended the inning on a groundout by Yoenis Cespedes, but the damage was done and the Nationals trail early.

Update: Fister, a groundball pitcher by trade, has shown that he isn’t quite at top form through his first three innings of the season.

Fister has induced two groundouts... compared to six flyouts in the first three innings, and that doesn’t factor in the solo homer he surrendered to Jaso in the third. Jaso’s second home run of the season increased the Athletics’ lead to 2-0.

Fister has allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits so far. He has thrown 48 pitches, 29 for strikes.

Former Nats prospect Tommy Milone, on the other hand, has held Washington scoreless on one hit and one walk while striking out three through three frames.

Update II: Fister permitted two more runs in the fourth with Cespedes scoring on a wild pitch and Eric Sogard driving in another with an RBI single to right (on his own glasses giveaway night), putting the Nats in a 4-0 hole.

Fister has allowed three earned runs on seven hits in four innings. Plus side, he hasn’t walked a batter. Silver linings.

His first start of the year ended with back-to-back homers from Moss and Cespedes, increasing the A’s advantage to 7-0. Moss’ homer was a two-run blast.

Fister left after 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits and no walks. He struck out two and matched a career high by allowing three homers. He threw 79 pitches, 53 for strikes.

Fister gave up three homers in a game just once last season, on July 7 against Cleveland. It marks the fifth time his career that he has surrendered that many longballs and he has never done so more than once in a season. So that could bode well if that trend holds true.

Update IV: The Athletics added another run in the seventh off reliever Ross Detwiler, increasing their lead to 8-0 on Derek Norris’ RBI single to left.

That chased Detwiler and brought on Aaron Barrett. Detwiler allowed one run on three hits and a walk in 2 1/3 innings.

The Nats’ offense has mustered little against Milone, who has allowed two hits, walked three and struck out six over seven scoreless innings.

Update V: It was a rough night all around for the Nats.

Fister didn’t make it out of the fifth and took the loss in his first game with his new team, the Nationals managed just three hits and committed three errors in suffering an 8-0 loss to the A’s.

Milone struck out seven and permitted just two hits in eight scoreless innings and Fernando Rodriguez wrapped up the victory with a scoreless ninth.

The Nats’ fourth loss in six games drops them to 19-16 and keeps them in second place in the National League East, behind the surprising Marlins, who entered the night having won five in a row and nine of 10.